The fight for clean energy starts now
Clean energy has been in the headlines for the good part of the last quarter of a century, when people around the world realised our planet cannot sustain on just fossil fuels. In Bangladesh, considered a lower-middle income country by The World Bank, the status quo was far different.
When speaking about clean energy, known more popularly as “renewable energy”, the general consensus is a unanimous “YES” for everyone cares about the Earth and its environment. However, realising its benefits, implementing its proper use, and adapting to the new lifestyle is nothing short of a revolution.
The fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas – are depleting at a faster rate than expected, in Bangladesh and the world. We have been dependent on fossil fuels since the day we knew we had them, but it's high time that we look for alternatives catering to our energy demand, and leaving the least amount of carbon footprint in the environment possible.
Our dependency on fossil fuels coupled with the constant increase in heavy human activities, also has its effects on climate change, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. It is not difficult to observe how these fuels run our industries, drive our vehicles to and from work and cook our food on a day-to-day basis; what goes beyond our notice is how the same actions lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and other toxic compounds in the environment. Department of Environment and World Health Organisation (WHO) reports show that there is a rise in patients suffering and dying from respiratory diseases due to vehicular and industrial emissions, putting our capital city among the ones with worst air quality. Particulate matters in the humid Dhaka air cause smog visible around the city skyline. These consequences of using fossil fuels will have to be faced by the next generation, if we do not look for sustainable solutions right now.
Amidst lack of proper knowledge and political instability, the revolution for clean energy in Bangladesh began with Grameen Shakti in 1996, with the introduction of solar panels to the rural communities. Where grid electricity was a luxury, the locals gracefully accepted and in due time benefitted from the technology that produced solar energy for their homes and farms. What started out as privatised “solar home systems” using photovoltaic panels has been so successful that new investments in this sector are regularly pouring in, generating both energy and employment.
A developing country with a major agricultural sector, Bangladesh has almost 50000 biogas plants installed. Biogas has also had a major impact in the energy scene with its easy access and utility, and is much favoured in rural areas. Furthermore, recent innovations in solid waste technology promise advancements in biogas and biomass technology. On a personal level, I have been doing research on waste-to-energy practices in Dhaka, and have found that proper use of the municipal waste can extensively reduce our energy demands.
Looking towards the future, the government has begun investigating into opportunities to develop wind and wave energy potentials. Establishment of a new 60 MW wind farm in Cox's Bazar, with the support of Danish investment, is scheduled to begin this year; the concept of clean energy technology is definitely something that is being spread across the country.
The fight for a greener environment starts with the adaptation of cleaner energy. With steady progress, we can hope that by the year 2050, Bangladesh will move forward into attaining the status of a middle-income country – not by depleting fossil fuels, but with a sustainable infrastructure that advocates better environment for its future generations.
Kazi Akib Bin Asad is a Sub-editor at Shout who likes to travel and collect puns from all over the world. Follow him and his adventures on instagram.com/akibasad